Italian / Italy
Come questa pietra. Il libro di tutte le guerre
(Like this stone. The book of all wars)
Sanna, Alessandro
(illus.)
Milano: Rizzoli, [2019]. – [176] p.
ISBN 978-88-17-10949-9
Battle | Conflict | War | Picture book | Wordless book
Reading age: 10+
White Ravens issue: 2019
In this large-format book almost wholly devoid of text, Alessandro Sanna captures in images the chaos and clamour raised by the countless wars humans have waged with each other. War is always deafening, even when it is fought without machines or modern technology. War alters landscapes and countries and determines the fate of human beings and other living creatures on all continents. This book deals with the wars of early humans and ancient myths, the simulated war of child’s play and present-day conflicts, and all undeclared and unexplained, but still utterly real wars. The encounters are impressively captured in single and double spreads, which alternate and are kept to a muted colour palette. Some pages are further divided into multiple illustrated sequences. The viewer travels through space and time, studying the powerful images to find the causes, particular circumstances, and signs of wars. The question concerning our future is left open.